Sibling Rivalry

Disclaimer: As I write this fic today; I pray the owners hear what I say; Please keep from suing my butt for money; I don't own it at all, it isn't funny.

Please ignore my attempt at poetry. I have no talent for it.



Tobias watched as Mia started a conversation with their parents, and started to creep along the hallway. Akira had gone, most likely to his room. Tobias had to stop himself sighing at the extra obstacle. He wished he was more courageous sometimes.

He walked over to the open door of what he considered his room, and walked in. Akira was there, watching Tobias' opera tape.

"I like this!" he said, by way of greeting. He obviously meant the opera. If there was anything that could have put Tobias in a sadder mood, this was it. He nearly cried at the prospect of ignoring his boyfriend (or was it ex- boyfriend? If it was, they had been in what had to be a record for world's shortest relationship.) now. In any case, Akira was really enjoying the tape, and Tobias felt hurt by the fact that he couldn't watch it with the beautiful boy. Akira looked so much better happy.

"Are you OK, Tobias?" Akira asked, after not even being acknowledged. Tobias bent down to pick up his bag, so he didn't have to look at those sad blue eyes. "Tobias!" Akira said angrily. Tobias ran out of the room. His face was streaked with tears.

Mia watched the pitiful figure of her brother pass, and felt a pang of guilt. She brushed it away, however. If she wanted to achieve her goal, she couldn't allow her pathetic brother to get in the way.

However, ruthlessness is easier in theory than in practice. Mia ended her conversation with her parents and slid into her room.

"Look, Tobias..." she said. He was crying into his pillow, a position that she found reminded her too much of herself only a few hours before. "Go away," he said, words muffled by the bedclothes.

"But..."

"I said, GO AWAY! It's not like you should be giving me any sympathy, Miss Heartless."

Mia found there was nothing she could do but go away. She walked across the hall to Akira's room. The closed door seemed rather telling of the situation to her. She knocked quietly, but there was no answer. She opened the door to find Akira sitting on his bed. He looked extremely worried.

"What's wrong?" asked Mia, not even needing to feign concern.

"Tobias... he is sad," Akira replied.

"Why is he sad?" Mia

"I don't know," the blue eyed teenager answered. "He... suitcase... left."

"I understand," said Mia. "I think... I think he is upset at you." Mia wondered frantically whether her guilty hesitation had ruined the plan.

"Oh..." muttered Akira.

"It doesn't matter. He didn't deserve you anyway." Mia looked into Akira's sapphire eyes beseechingly.

It had no affect, however, other than making Akira extremely angry. "You do not understand," he stated, standing at his full height. Mia shrank back.

"What don't I understand?" she asked timidly.

"You do not understand... Tobias... you do not understand me... you understand yourself!" Akira was on the edge of tears.

"You are saying I am selfish?" inquired Mia, now standing as well. Her own small stature was made more obvious by Akira's height.

"I do not know. I know that you hurt my Tobias," countered Akira.

"What? YOUR Tobias? Since when does he belong to you?"

"Tobias is my Tobias, and I am Tobias' Akira," explained Akira. His eyes betrayed a love that a blind man could have seen.

"Fine," Mia said. She stalked out of the room. Her brother had taken away any chance she had ever had with Akira, and she knew it. There was no escaping the truth: Akira had fallen head over heels for Tobias.

Tobias' anger at Mia ebbed away, as anger usually did, and was replaced by deep depression and self-loathing. He was now sitting, his head in his hands.

How hard can it be? he asked himself. Three words. "I am gay." Not hard to say in my head... but why can't I bring myself to say it aloud?

"Tobias?" a heavily accented voice said. It was, of course, Akira. He was standing at the door. Tobias simply couldn't bring himself to even look up. Akira walked over and sat down next to him.

"Tobias? Tobias, are you okay?" Tobias felt another tear slide down his face. "What is it?" Akira tried to see what Tobias' expression was, but his hands were covering his face completely. Akira didn't understand what was going on at all. The boy had been kissing him only a few hours ago. He couldn't think what would have brought on such a change in mood. Akira put his arm around Tobias gently, and he heard the former illusionist almost sigh before he pushed away from the embrace. In the use of his arms, however, he had nothing to shield his face, and Akira took the opportunity to cover Tobias' lips gently with his own. This time, Tobias allowed him to do so, but did not react. Akira pulled away after a few moments, his confusion still apparent. Tobias' face held a small smile.

"Surely if I don't do anything it isn't breaking the rules..." Akira heard Tobias whisper, seemingly to himself.

"What?" Akira asked.

"Huh? Oh I was just..." Tobias slapped a hand over his mouth. Akira looked even more confused than before.

"Tobias, WHAT IS WRONG?" yelled Akira, losing his temper totally. This simply caused Tobias to start to cry again, and this time the tears were not hidden.

Luckily for Tobias, Mrs Henderson walked into the room at that very moment.

"What is going on here?" she asked in an annoyed tone.

"Oh, it's nothing Mum," Tobias said. "Um... I was a little upset... and... Akira is trying to get me to talk to him... and I... doesn't matter."

"What? A little upset? Tobias, you're crying. Now, look, tell me what is wrong or you wont have access to the video player for a month." She turned on Akira. "You! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SON?" Akira blanched visibly, and leant backwards. He may not have been able to understand, but anyone could recognise that tone.

"Mum! He didn't do anything! Um... okay, he did some things, but they weren't..." Tobias stopped himself quickly. Saying that they weren't bad would lead to further questions "Uh... what I mean to say is that it wasn't his fault... it's mine, I'm a little stressed about... homework."

Okay, now THAT was a bad excuse, thought Tobias.

"Homework?" asked Mrs Henderson suspiciously. "You were stressed about homework? I suppose Maths makes you cry, does it?"

"Um... not usually," admitted Tobias, wiping his eyes. Akira decided now would be a good time to leave, and did so.

"Why is he going?" asked Tobias' mother.

"I'm his b... friend, not his slave," said Tobias. He inwardly kicked himself again.

"Huh?" asked Mrs Henderson. "What did you nearly say? B what?"

"Um... did I say B something? I don't think I did."

"I'm pretty sure you did, Tobias. Now what was it?" Mrs Henderson demanded. She could be very forceful when she wanted to be.

"Um... you must have heard wrong..." muttered Tobias. His mother still looked suspicious, but let it slide.

"Anyway, tell me the REAL reason why you were crying. I know that you're not stressed, you haven't had homework for a week. Is it Akira?"

"Um... sort of... no! What I mean is, it's not his fault, but it is him. I... uh... look, Mum... I-I'm..."

"Stuttering?" interjected Mrs Henderson helpfully.

"No... I'm just upset... that I'm not doing a good enough job making sure Akira is alright," Tobias lied. His moment of courage had been destroyed.

"Oh... well, I think you're doing fine. It's wonderful that you're taking this as a responsibility, Tobias," said his mother.

"Yeah..." responded Tobias.

"I hope you feel better soon. I'll tell Akira if you want."

"Oh no, please don't!" said Tobias quickly.

"Why?" questioned his mother.

"Um... because... because... oh, hi Mia." Tobias had never been so happy to see his sister.

"What are you talking to Mum about?" Mia asked him.

"Nothing..." Tobias answered evasively.

"You didn't tell her?" the girl asked. Her grey eyes were oddly wide.

"Yes, he did," Mrs Henderson said.

"And are you going to kick him out of the house?" asked Mia. "Or confine him to his room for the rest of eternity?"

"Um... no. I don't think being worried about the responsibility of having an exchange student really warrants that," said the twins' mother.

"I guess not," Mia laughed airily. She glared at Tobias and he glared back at her.

People seem to be interrupting Tobias at bad moments, ne? Anyway, next chapter you may see a little bit of resolution. Or maybe not. Depends on my mood.